Topical items and views on the impact of digitisation on publishing and its content and the issues that make the news. This blog follows the report 'Brave New World',
(http://www.ewidgetsonline.com/vcil/bravenewworld.html ), published by the Booksellers Association of the UK and Ireland and authored by Martyn Daniels. The views and comments expressed are those of the author.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

The Great Book Bank Robbery - Legal Notice

On the 16th January on page 9 The Bookseller printed a whole page ‘Legal Notice’ on behalf of the Google Book Search Settlement Administration. We waited expecting some commentary or debate in the press but saw none.

The ‘Legal Notice’ was entitled ‘If you are a Book Author, Book Publisher or Other Person Who owns a Copyright in a Book or Other Writing’.

It went on ‘Your rights may be affected by a class action settlement regarding Google’s scanning and use of Books and other writings’. It warned, ‘This settlement may affect you because it covers US copyright interests in books published outside the US. If you hold such an interest in a book or other material in a book, this settlement could bind you unless you timely opt out.’

The notice summarised what the settlement provided, who was included, what material is covered and what you should do. 'The settlement class includes all persons worldwide who hold a US copyright interest in any book or insert.' Books include 'in-copyright works; novels, textbooks, dissertations and other writings that were published or distributed in hard copy on or before January 5th 2009... Inserts include; 'forewords, essays, poems, quotations, letters, song lyrics, children’s book illustrations, sheet music, charts and graphs if independently protected by US copyright contained in a book...’

The notice sets out the critical timeline:May 5th 2009Object or comment in writingOpt out in writing of the settlement and keep the right to sue Google individuallyJune 11th 2009The court will determine whether to approve the settlement at a fairness hearingJanuary 5th 2009File a claim for cash payment

Otherwise do nothing and remain within the settlement and be bound by the courts ruling, including a release of your claims against Google.

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About Me

Before entering publishing I worked for many years as a Senior Executive in blue chip organisations in the retail, oil and automotive sectors. My publishing induction was initially as Director of Strategic Development at VISTA. There I was responsible for, and a contributor to, their highly acclaimed ‘Publishing in the 21st Century’ research series, the primary creator behind publishing services PubEasy and ‘batch.co.uk’, the initiator of the development of new Front Office systems to support publishers. In 2006 I joined Value Chain International(VCIL) initially as VP Marketing, Media and Publishing before becoming their President in 2009. In July 2011 the company's operations were acquired by Syncordia. I hold two non executive positions with publishing industry players Bibliophile Ltd and Haven Group and currently setting up Read Petite a service focused on providing digital short form material online via subscription.
Email mdaniels@opus57.co.uk